133. The face betrays first

புளியிட்ட பால்போல் முகமும் திரியும்ஒளிக்க நினைக்குமுன் தான்

puliyitta paalpol mukamum thiriyumolikka ninaikkumun thaan

Like milk with tamarind in it, the face too curdles before one has even thought to hide it.

Tamarind is a sharply sour fruit used in Tamil cooking; dropped into milk, it curdles it as lemon would.

134. Ashamed even alone

தான்மட்டும் நிற்கும் அறையிலும் நாணுவான்தான்போடும் தன்சிறைக் கோல்

thaanmattum nirkum araiyilum naanuvaanthaanpodum thansiraik kol

Even in a room where he stands alone he feels shame: the bar of his own prison, set by his own hand.

The Tamil word kol means a bar and also a ruler’s sceptre: his shame both shuts him in and rules him.

135. Shame guards conduct

நாணின் அகத்தொலிக்கும் காவல் நயனிலார்நாணிலா வெற்று முரசு

naanin akatholikkum kaaval nayanilaarnaanilaa vetru murasu

Shame is a guard that sounds within a person; those without decency, having no shame, are an empty drum.